Not happy with my brand new T60

[Jarko]

[edit 2007-05-09] Everything seems to be OK for now. The unit went to IBM service and is working like a charm.[/edit 2007-05-09]

Ok, so I've got some problems with my T60, model 2007-FVG. Core 2 Duo 1,83Ghz, 1Gt RAM and Radeon X1400.

I've had this machine for two weeks or so.

I've installed all the critical updates for windows and from ThinkVantage System Update. Not every update, but all the critical and odrivers and things I suspected could make some difference.

First of all it crashes.

3DMark03 doesn't get through at all. Always an error at some point. Is this normal, some kind of bug with X1400? It doesn't seem that way because it doesn't crash at a specific point...

For two times the machine has shown me a blue screen after inserting CD, first time the CD was a blank, the second time it was an audio-CD. Both of the times I had music playing in the background and it just got stuck in a loop and blue screen appeared.

Then the fan. I don't mind if it's loud in a normal fan noise -like way. Like a noisy "humming" sound (hard to pick a word since my mother tongue isn't English) or something. But this fan has this odd very fast "ticking" sound. Like there is something stuck in the fan. It's making this sound at high speed or randomly. That just drives me crazy if it's otherwise quiet in the room. Could the fan be broke or something? I'm not sure but I don't think it sounded like that in the first couple of days.

Other than above, the machine is just great, i like the keyboard, trackpoint, looks, FlexView, it's cooling great etc.

Any comments to these problems...?

Sorry for my possibly bad English, hope you can cope with it. [/b]

[EOMtp]

Sorry to hear that you are experiencing the issues you described. Nothing you mention is "normal". The crashing/blue screen could be due to an unstable memory stick. The fan noise you describe is probably due to a bad fan or a cable rubbing against the fan. The normal sound of a T60 fan is very soft, with none of the "ticking" sound you describe. Lenovo should be able to fix both problems based on the description you provided here.

If your machine has 2 memory sticks, then you might want to test to see if the crashing/blue screen issues go away if you remove one or the other of the memory sticks. Here is a short video with instructions on how to access the memory:
http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-63769

Good luck!

[ryengineer]

Just to add more, the reason of BSOD could be due to any bad or wrongly installed component onboard. But in most cases nasty memory is to blame.

If it's under warranty (which i'm pretty sure it would be), it's time for you to avail it now.

[darrenf]

I have seen ticking (or more of a card-in-the-spokes) sound on some units that come back from repair. It was caused by one of the wireless antenna wires falling into the speaker. If you want to check this, you can remove the keyboard and expose the fan to see if a wire is routed on top of it. The correct route is above the fan (there are clips).

I'm sorry you have had so much trouble -- this is unusual. Was the unit new or refurb?

BTW: Don't install the Windows Updates in the "drivers" section. Critical and optional updates are fine, but the ones in the drivers section have a history of causing trouble. Use Software Installer or System Update instead.

-darren

[Jarko]

Thanks for the replys!

Well I'm happy to hear all this is unusual. A rock fell of my heart or something like that.

I have seen ticking (or more of a card-in-the-spokes) sound on some units that come back from repair. It was caused by one of the wireless antenna wires falling into the speaker. If you want to check this, you can remove the keyboard and expose the fan to see if a wire is routed on top of it. The correct route is above the fan (there are clips).

I'm sorry you have had so much trouble -- this is unusual. Was the unit new or refurb?

BTW: Don't install the Windows Updates in the "drivers" section. Critical and optional updates are fine, but the ones in the drivers section have a history of causing trouble. Use Software Installer or System Update instead.

-darren

The unit was brand new ordered from a Finnish online store. It looks like IBM/Lenovo handles all the warranty issues here, so I don't have to contact the reseller. IBM/Lenovo even has a toll free phone number for warraty issues. I guess I call there after work today.

Any good or bad guesses how long the service will take?

I'll keep this topic/thread updated...

[CP-Geek]

[Finnish] Jarko, soita sinne ibarille / lenovolle, ite sain recovery-levyt kun jäkätin tarpeeks kun oma oli tullessaan pari viikkoa sitten täynnä bloattia. Nopea ja loistava palvelu.[/Finnish]

None of those symptoms are normal, so You have the full warranty on your side, just contact manufacturer straight.

[pianowizard]

Well I'm happy to hear all this is unusual. A rock fell of my heart or something like that.

Any modern computer, regardless of brand, that shows the Blue Screen of Death more than once a year (on average) isn't normal.

[spt60]

Well I'm happy to hear all this is unusual. A rock fell of my heart or something like that.

Any modern computer, regardless of brand, that shows the Blue Screen of Death more than once a year (on average) isn't normal.

Did you actually mean "isn't unusual" or "is normal" ? Just think you might a quick-typo

[dickeywang]

Ask for replacement within 21days of purchase. I'm having overheat problem with X1400 on my 2007-66U (GPU goes 110C and artifacts after playing 3D games), and they won't fix the problem because they claim they can't reproduce it(they won't even try to run 3D softwares under windows, they test it using their own softwares), and they won't exchange it for the same model because it was purchased more than 21days ago.

[Jarko]

CP-Geek: Thanks for some finnish comments

I just called the IBM/Lenovo service and the guy at the other end said I will be contacted after tomorrow morning when the serviceguys have arrived to work.

Ask for replacement within 21days of purchase. I'm having overheat problem with X1400 on my 2007-66U (GPU goes 110C and artifacts after playing 3D games), and they won't fix the problem because they claim they can't reproduce it(they won't even try to run 3D softwares under windows, they test it using their own softwares), and they won't exchange it for the same model because it was purchased more than 21days ago.

I just checked when the unit was delivered and it says 28. of March. So I guess I'm out of that 21 day limit. I don't even know if that kind of exchange is possible here in Finland.

If this is true what you wrote above it just sucks very badly.

Well, the fan is also making that strange noise under heavy load, and those blue screens when inserting CD is also an issue. I've had it twice and I've inserted something like 20 CDs.

When the machine arrived to me it crashed also couple of times just like PC crashes when you have overclocked display adapter or something. It just froze completely. But these kind of crashes haven't occured after applying updates. But it's strange that a machine with factory settings would just crash without updates...?

Argh... I don't like this at all. Well I hope everything goes well.

If nothing else, I promise to keep you posted.

[darrenf]

If the fan isn't working properly then that could explain all the other problems. Unfortunately, Lenovo won't let you change it out yourself -- you'll have to send it in for repair (or have it services onsite if you have that coverage)

-darren

[Jarko]

I haven't been contacted from IBM/Lenovo yet.

But I updated my BIOS to the latest version. The new one should fix some Core 2 Duo stability issues. I saw a topic about it here. Well, 3DMark03 still crashes and the fan makes nasty noise.

I also took some temperatures up with tpfancontrol. My CPU and GPU temperature goes up and down almost hand in hand. When 3DMark03 crashes, both temperatures are ~65 degrees celcius. Should those temperatures be so dependent on each other?

Is this clarifying things? CPU or GPU heating up too much and the cooling is somehow defected?

-Jarko

[darrenf]

That sounds pretty cool to be crashing. A CPU at 65C is working hard but I've seen much hotter. As for the GPU, I have run mine at 108C for some time while running 3DMark06.

Good luck in your service request -- I hope you get taken care of.

-darren

[Jarko]

I was contacted by the IBM/Lenovo service yesterday.

The unit should be picked up from me shortly.

I tried to make some backups from my files which I've gathered in these 4 weeks but yet another blue screen when I tried to make a DVD. After that I just shut the thing down so I wouldn't throw it in the wall.

I'll just hope they test it thoroughly enough to see it's somehow defected.

Someone wrote above that they won't test with 3D software but this guy at the other end didn't say anything like that. It just seemed to confirm him when I said that 3DMark03 doesn't get through and I've tried it at least 5 times.

And again I'll promise to keep you updated.

[BillMorrow]

you might find that they will reimage your HDD..
so DO backup any critical files..
perhaps over the LAN..?
or to a memory key..?

if it were me i would reload the factory image and run the thinkpad..
it might be that one or more of the updates screwed things up..
(how do you say "screwed things up" in finnish..? )

[Jarko]

you might find that they will reimage your HDD..
so DO backup any critical files..
perhaps over the LAN..?
or to a memory key..?

if it were me i would reload the factory image and run the thinkpad..
it might be that one or more of the updates screwed things up..
(how do you say "screwed things up" in finnish..? )

Well I did backup of my critical files to a memory key.

I would also like to have a backup of my MP3 collection which I ripped in these 4 weeks... but I guess I have to leave that if they come to get the machine today or tomorrow.

Hmm... screwed things up in finnish. You could say something like that in many ways. I'll switch the order of the words to "things screwed up" because that's easier for me. Here's a few, CP-Geek can help too.

[finnish]
-Asiat meni sekaisin
-Asiat meni reisille
-Asiat meni perseelleen
-Hommat kusi
-Vituiks meni
-Elämä on
[/finnish]

[Jarko]

The unit got picked up from me just now.

Yesterday I managed to have time to reset the whole machine to factory settings. Then I tested 3DMark03 without installing any other updates but the latest 3DMark03 patch v. 330. It crashed. And the fan still made nasty noise.

I didn't get any other crashes though. No blue screens or anything. On the other hand I didn't have time to update it or to insert but just one CD or to test it properly after resetting to factory settings.

I wonder what happens if they don't test it with 3D software and don't get it to crash. Do I have to pay something for the "unnecessary" service request...

[CP-Geek]

Didi they say how long it would take? And exactly who picked it up? And where is it going to, Lenovo Finland?

(Just curious because my fan have started to have some issues..)

[Jarko]

Didi they say how long it would take? And exactly who picked it up? And where is it going to, Lenovo Finland?

(Just curious because my fan have started to have some issues..)

It was picked up from me at my work by Schenker.

According to the paper I got it's going to Powermill Service Oy at Helsinki.

I didn't even ask how long it will take. I hope I will get somekind of contact from them next week. Could be false hope though because we have some holidays next week...

-Jarko

[Jarko]

I got my unit back today. Didn't have much time to play with it in the morning but everything looks good.

Service report says that mainboard and fan has been changed. The fan didn't make annoying noise anymore and 3DMark03 works like a charm.

So the service took about ten days and there was one holiday in the middle. I'm pleased. And the unit was picked up from me and delivered at home.

I'll report back when I've tested the machine more.